Chapter 12: The False Salvation Doctrine

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For instance, suppose your friend owned the local home improvement

store in the last chapter that gave you an easy pass on walking out with an extra $110.00 in merchandise free because the clerk made a mistake and failed to ring up a purchase. You wouldn’t even think about not correcting the clerk’s error and paying the full price would you? Why? It is because

you love your friend and their friendship is more important to you than anything physical on this planet. You reason correctly that your friend would interpret such an action as a theft. Therefore, as far as your friend is concerned, you believe in the commandment, “Thou shall not steal.”

Suppose you stopped by your friend’s house only to find out she was gone and wouldn’t be home for hours. Her husband offers you some coffee, which you accept. You find your friend’s husband a very attractive person. However, you reject and restrain all lustful thoughts you have towards your

friend’s husband, because you reason correctly that nothing on this earth is worth jeopardizing the close friendship you share with her. Therefore, as far as your friend is concerned, you believe in the commandment, “Thou shall not commit adultery.”

Suppose someone known to both you and your friend meets up with you and starts to talk about your friend to you. In fact, they state some outrageous thing you know for certain is an outright lie about your friend.

You do not keep silent because you know the truth. You reason correctly that if you do not tell the truth, you are then bearing a false witness against your friend by default. Therefore, as far as your friend is concerned, you believe in the commandment, “Thou shall not bear false witness.”

Suppose your friend has acquired something in life that is desirous to you. Something you would like to personally own. Your friend is well off, but you are poor and cannot afford such a luxury. Because you value your

friendship so much, you learned to rejoice in the good things of your friend’s life. You reason that your joy in life can be an extension of your friend’s joy in life so you reject all thoughts of covetousness towards anything that your friend owns. Therefore, as far as your friend is concerned, you believe in the

commandment, “Thou shall not covet.”